Rotary drilling machine



April 15, 1924. 1,490,759

L. J. BLACK ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1WN- NW- April 15 1924. 1,490,759

L. J. BLACK ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Filed 001;. 2'5 .-1921 sSheets-Sheef. 2

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A ril 1 1924. 1,490,759

L. J. BLACK ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Apr. 15, 11924.

LEE J. BLACK, 01 BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE.

Application filed October 25, 1921. Seriai No. 510,323.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LEE J. BLACK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Beaumont, in the county of Jefferson and State of Texas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary DrillingMachines, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to well-drilling ma chines of the rotary type,the same employing a turntable for rotating the tool and other parts.

The invention has for its object to provide a noveland improved meansfor handling the work-gripping members or slips associated with theturntable, as well as other novel and improved structural details andmodes of operation as will be'pointed out in the detailed descriptionappearing hereinafter. 4

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin said. drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinalsection on the line 22 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a cross-' section on the line3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 isa longitudinal section showing the slips inlowered position; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and with the slipsalso shown in lowered position, and Fig. 6 is a plan View showing amodified form of turntable drive gearing.

Referring specifically to the draw1ngs,,10 denotes the turntable orrotating drive-member of a rotary well-drilling machine, the same beingsupported on a stationary base 11, with anti-friction rollers 12interposed therebetween. The base 11 seats on sills 13 and has upwardand downward tubular extensions 14 and 15, the former entering a centralopening 16 in the turntable 10. The opening. 17 of the extensions has adownward taper to seat certain elements to be presently described. Nearthe top, the wall of the opening 17 has two diametrically oppositerecesses 18.

In the opening 17 is mounted a. bushing 19 containing diametricallopposite and vertically movable work-gripping members 20, or slips asthey are commonly termed in the art, two of such being provided. Ofcourse, any other number of slips may be employed. The bushing 19 hasdownward taper on the inside, and its lower half has an internaldiameter which is less than that of its upper half, so that there isproduced at the junction of said upper and lower halves a shoulder 21.The bushing 19'also has two diametrically opposite vertical slots 22extending from the top down to the shoulder 21. On the outside of thebushing, at the top thereof, are two diametrically opposite, outwardlyprojecting lugs 23 which seat in the recesses 18 and serve to preventrotation of the bushing in the opening-l7.

To each slip 20 is connected an arm 24. for raising and lowering thesame. This arm is vertically positioned and seats in a vertical slot 25in the base extensions 14 and 15, said slot extending entirelytherethrough from the outside thereof to the openin 17. At the to thearm 24 has an inturne laterally exten ing branch 26 to the extremity ofwhich a slip 20 is pivotally connected as shown at 27. The lower end ofthe arm 24 has an outturned lateral branch 28 which is engaged by one ofthe arms 29 of an anglelever having its other arm 30 connected to therod 31 of a piston 32 working in a fluidpressure cylinder 33 supportedby an extension 34 of the base 11. The two angle-levers which operatethe arms 24 of the two slips are both connected to the rod 31 forsimultaneous operating of the slips, the connecair, or any other fluidunder pressure. A

suitable valve mechanism for controlling the admission and the exhaustof the fluid-pres sure to the cylinder 33 will be provided, but as thismechanism, is wellknown and immaterial to the present invention it hasnot been illustrated. The piston 32 is also shown with a second rod 38extending in the opposite direction from the rod 31, and connected to ahand lever 39, so that the anglelevers may be operated manually. Thebranches 26 of the arms 24 extend through the slots 22, and they work upand down therein when the slips 20 are elevated and lowered.

The slips 20 are elevated by admitting fluid-pressure to the c linder 33on that side of the piston 32 whic will carry the latter in a directionto swing the lever arms 29 upwardly. This movement of the lever arms theslips 1n lowered position.

- the turntable 10. As usual, t

The bushin 19 also has diametrically opposite verticafslots 40 on theinside at right angles to the slots 22. The purpose of the slots 40 isto permit putting in and taking out a drill bit of the full width of thebushing without removal of the bushing. When the slips 20 are inelevated position they are clear of the slots to permit free passa e ofthe drill bit.

n the base 11, to the rear of the rollers 12, are vertical openings 41to permit the escape of mud and grit.

A reversible driving means is rovid'ed for lie turntable has an annularrack 42 with which meshes a drive pinion 43 carried by a shaft 44supported by a bearing 45 and having a portion extending into a tubularshaft 46 fitted with a sprocket wheel 47 for obtaining motion from asuitable power source. The shaft 44 also extends into a second hollowshaft 48 in axial alinement with and spaced from shaft 46. On theopposed ends of shafts 46 and 48 are made fast bevel gears 49 and 50which are both in mesh with an idler bevel car 51. The gears 49 and 50have clutch aces for engagement of a clutch member 52 having a slidingand driving connection with shaft 44, the same being a spline, featheror similar connection. Clutch member 52 is adjustable by a shifter lever53 to interlock with gears 49 or 50. When clutch member 52 is locked togear 49, a di rect driving connection is established between shafts 46and 44, and the latter rotates in the same direction as the former.

To reverse the motion, [clutch member 52 is shifted to lock shaft 48 toshaft '44. The motionof shaft 46 is now transreversed without reversingthe engine, and

it is possible to use a non-reversible engine,

such as a gas or oil engine, a constant s eed motor, or any other primemover w 'ch could not used succesfully with the driving mechanism inordinary use, because of its non-reversibilty.

Fig. 6 shows a slightly modified form of reversible driving means. Thearrangement of shafts 44, 46 and 48, as well as that of tfzhe gears 49,-50 and 51, is the same as be- 01'8- member, its shaft 54 having aconnection 55 with the prime mover.

I claim:

1. In a rotary drilling machine, a stationary tubular base member, abushing mounted in said base member and having vertical work-clearanceslots in its side, the interior of said bushing having a downward taper,and work-gripping members slidably mounted in the bushing and positione,when moved upwardly therein, to clear the aforesaid slots.

2. In a rota drilling machine, a stationary tubular ase member havingits interior tapered downwardly and provided with vertical side slots, abushing in the base member and tapered externally to fit the taper ofthe base member, said bushing being provided with vertical side slots,and the interior of the bushing having a downward taper, work-grippinmembers slidably mounted in the bushing, supporting members for thegripping members movably mounted in theside slots of the base member andprojecting into' the slots of the bushing, and elevating and loweringmeans for said supporting members.

3. In a rotary drilling'machine, a stationary base member havingupwardly and downwardly directed tubular extensions provided withvertical side slots, and tapered internally, a bushing seating in thebase extensions .and tapered externally to fit the taper thereof, saidbushing being provided with vertical side slots, and the interior of thebushing having a downward taper, workgripping members mounted forvertical sliding movement in the bushing, supportmg members for thegripping members movably mounted in the slots of the base extensions andprojecting into the slots of the bushing, and elevating and loweringmeans for said supporting members. v

4. In a rotary drilling machine, a member having a vertical openin abushin mounted in said opening and having vertica work-clearance slotsin its side, the interior of'said bushing having a downward taper, andwork-gripping members slidably mounted in the b and positioned, whenmoved upwardly t erein, to clear the aforesaid slots In testimonywhereof I afiix my signature.

. LEE J.

However the gear 51 is a driving

